In my dads day in the early 50s it was wide open
He was High School all American tight end from Clinton Mississippi just west of Jackson and was offered cars by Miss State and Georgia Tech and Tulsa
Cash from Notre Dame
Cash from Tulane
Cash from Ole Miss
Cash from Alabama
Something from Texas and Michigan
Went to VMI on full ride only for scholastics and little hope of rankings but he got to play for John McKenna who was a remarkable man
Tulane....the green wave... was a ranked school then as was Tech
Drafted by Giants 55 but went USAF 2nd lt. Instead for 7 years
I think most schools stretch it for sure maybe only Vandy and SMU in my part of the country don’t....Vandy because of grades and SMU for fear...they know better than anyone the price
Have never heard about Rice being shady. I think they actually make their jocks go to class.
My after in law played for Coach McKenna. Later coached under Vito Ragazza (think that’s right). He coached there with Bobby Ross. They revered Coach.